Pre-interview tests...

[BolshieBastard]

I've been talking to a 'recruitment agency' about a role and all the holes seemed to fit. She then insisted I take a standard 'database' test provided by the end client. I told her, "I don't do low-grade permie tests as these are for employees". The conversation didn't go too well afterwards. She called me very unprofessional and became very aggressive indeed and I refused my 20+ year career to be judged by an irrelevant, 'school boy' test. She ended up hanging up on me

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Start looking for another role!?

Seriously, I had this with an 'educational' supplier near Stockport. They wanted me to take a friggin spelling and grammar test before an interview. I refused point blank as it wasnt part of the service I was providing.

Clueless fockers.

[Fandango]

Exactly - was it you who cost me 300 miles worth of juice?

afraid not

it was done online on some 3rd parties testing website

[MintyBloke]

The best companies I have worked at have been the ones where I was brought in for face-to-face questioning or to pair with one of their developers for a couple of hours (yes really), sometimes after a telephone technical screening. It wasn't a coincidence that these companies had the best developers.

Any bob can pass an online test but that doesn't mean they can write good code.

You were right to refuse. Online technical tests for experienced developers are an 'interview smell' akin to a code smell indicating deeper problems, and such companies are to be avoided unless you really need the work.

[Scrag Meister]

Prior to interview at BarCap a few years ago I was asked to do a BrainBench test for coding and also for databases.

No issue get on with it.

Somewhat easier than a technical interview, did it online in half an hour or so and then got asked in for a face to face interview.

No use cutting off your nose to spite your face, sounds like that pride came and the contract fell away.

If the job wasn't really of that much interest, ok, but if it was you should really take your head out of your @r5e.

[Robinho]

I prefer them to interviews tbh.

[d000hg]

Lots of companies would want to test the person out, if it's genuinely for that reason I have no problem especially on developer/technical roles.

[jmo21]

ah, the old plumber v contractor analogy being brought out again.

While a bad plumber can cause a disaster as someone mentioned, plumbing a bathroom is a much more easily learned and repeatable skill than software development.
(I'm no plumber, I certainly don't have those skills, but I doubt it would take long to learn)

If a client wants to do an online test ahead of a face to face, then I do not mind, I'll get on with it.

Can they be easily googled along with, of course they can.

Does this mean the client aren't very good? Maybe.

Is that the type of place where I could make a difference and get extensions? Possibly.

Could it indicate a tulip place to work? It certainly could, but then I've had normal interviews, got the role, and it turned out to be a tulip place to work.

[Gentile]

Prior to interview at BarCap a few years ago I was asked to do a BrainBench test for coding and also for databases.

How did that go? At Barclays Capital it's important for our database administrators to know all about Capital.

Q1. What is the Capital of England?

A - New York
B - London
C - Johannesburg
D - I will happily keep quiet about any evidence of Libor rate fixing that comes across my desk

[oscarose]

afraid not

it was done online on some 3rd parties testing website

[MyUserName]

I have done a couple of pre interview tests, Brainbench (96%) and, for this contract, a logic based one (100%). I actually like them because I have a good head for tests and some of my competitors do not so it gets rid of them before they can become real competition.

However, in every interview I have been in for the passed couple of years I have been given a test. It is either a 'what is wrong with this code' test, a 'write this code' test or, once, a presentation on how to respond to a client situation (that was for a perm role).

I do not really consider them to be that different. The client wants to make sure I am as good as I look on my cv so a pre interview test helps remove time wasters. I do not think it is a big deal.